The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-01-29
NOT FIT TO EAT.
Farmer folly Found His "Pesky
Turkeys" All "A Ailin'."

crier of Gobbletown, and "Hear. o
hear, all We good people!" called the
crier at the top of his voice, as he
marched up and down the principal
streets of the city.
1t really seemed as if the crier and
the bell were trying sort of match to
see who could make the most noise,
with so much zest did each go about
his appointed duty. 'Twould have been
a very strange sort of people that could
not hear such a prolonged and remark
able din, and evidently the citizens of
Gobbletown were not of that sort. for
they came running from every direction,
and very soon goodly number had
collected in crowd about the crier,
and were eagerly beseeching him to
tell them his message.
Now every intelligent citizen CT Cob
bletown was quite convinced in his
heart of hearts that he knew exactly
what the crier was going to say. Had
not the same event taken place, and
been proclaimed, in the same manner.
at the same time, every year within the
memory of the oldest inhabitant, ever
since the wise Sage Longquill an
nounced his wonderful discovery?
Pray tell how any reasonable being
could expect the inevitable to change,
particularly when he had repeatedly
heard the Emperor and all his Minis
tiers assert the impossibility of such q
thing. Nevertheless all were very
anxious to hear his proclamation, and
excitedly followed him to the great
public square in front of the Emperor's
palace, where he promised to keep
them no longer in suspense.
The empire of Gobbleland was in the
power of mighty ogre, who left it
very much under the control of its le-
climate rulers the greater part of the
year; but at particular season, which
he called Thanksgiving. he and his
servants invaded it and carried away
all the brave young knights, thereby
rendering the inhabitants quite de-
fenceless, should they be attacked by
their enemies, the Geesians, or their
small but very numerous foe, the
Cacklers.
However, this was rather visionary
danger, since the empire was sur
rounded by an immense wall. five times
as high rs their tallest citizen, and
made of narrow panels, of a material
they could not penetrate with their
hardest instruments. These panels
were placed just far enough apart TO
permit them glimpse of the outside
world, but not far enough to allow the
slightest possibility of escape. The
one gate opened only at the magic
touch of the ogre.
And now a word Of explanation con-
corning Sage Longquill and the dis
covery to which allusion has been
made. The Sage was justly consid-
cred the very wisest Of all the citizens
in Gobbletown, and there were many
reasons why the palm should be yielded
to him. Foremost among them was
the fact that he was born in the fall.
q circumstance which occurred so sell
dom in this land that it was quite
equivalent to being a seventh daughter
of seventh daughter in other
countries, and was sufficient in itself
to command the good faith of the peo-
pie.
Being born in September, and the
visit of the ogre occurring two months
later, he was then declared by that
authority quite too young to be of use,
and so was left behind. The sad scene
which he then witnessed was impressed
deeply upon his mind, and he i'm
mediately began studying every thing
about him, hoping thus to discover
some way of escape for himself and
his countrymen from this terrible foe.
Atthe next invasion. he had the accumu-
lated wisdom of his fourteen months
labor stored safely in his brain, and he
evidently made the best possible use of
1t, for he again escaped, while all the
other knights were torn from their af-
fectiOnate families, to suffer, as thev
had good reasons to suppose, an
ignominious death, with scarcely n
moment left them in which to speak
their parting words.
LongquilFs heart was very sad when
he saw the sorrow about him. and he
retired to secluded nook, determined
to devote his whole life to the release
of his race from its enemy. The peo-
pie considered his escape as little less
than miracle. and henceforth regarded
him with much reverence. Their faith
in him increased, and some of the
boldest declared confidentially to their
bosom friends, that the world would
hear from young Longquill yet When
the time of the next annual visit was
near, Longquill, through the influence
Of a friendly minister, was granted an
audience with the Emperor.
With throbbing heart he knelt before
him. and begged his Majesty's per-
mission to state that he had discovered
hat fourteen days. before the ogre's
Visit he sent them very generous pres
snts of food. The Emperor nodded.
He remembered. now Longquill spoke
II Il, that he had noticed the same
hing himself. By measuring the food